Spain sees best Jan. jobless reading since 2007

DavidRoman

MADRID--Spain's government said Tuesday the number of people seeking jobless benefits rose last month at the slowest pace of any month of January since 2007 with the country's economy continuing to improve.

The labor ministry said that jobless claims increased in January--traditionally a bad month for employment in the country--from December by 77,980 to 4.53 million. However, seasonally adjusted claims fell by 42,723, the best reading ever in any month of January.

Spain's economy has been steadily expanding since it emerged in mid-2013 from its second recession in five years. Gross domestic product rose 0.7% in the three months through December, according to preliminary estimates.

Last year, jobless claims in Spain dropped by 253,627, the largest such decrease since the country fell in a deep economic crisis in 2008.

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